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Ok

A little while ago, I started to get into make up as I was feeling like I needed that little bit extra boost of confidence. As I knew nothing about make up whatsoever, and it can be such a land mine, I decided to get some professional help. I had heard that No7 offered a service in which they match a foundation to your skin tone, so makes the work so much easier in buying the ideal foundation for yourself.

I headed on down to my local Boots store and took up this amazing free service. The lady simply put a smallish machine to my face, in which it took a tone or shade or whatever it was of my face and it reeled off the reuslt that I matched their Cool Ivory shade of foundation. The lady told me that because it was the first time I was using foundation, I was best off with a lightweight foundation so it would be easier to use and then I could go from there.

She suggested to me using this No7 Essentially Natural foundation, which is supposed to be quite lightweight and it does go on quite easily, but to be honest it does have its flaws. I find that it does not stay on too long and close up, you can definitely tell it is on so even though it is supposed to lightweight, it seems a bit heavy, compared to other products out there.

The price I paid was £9, which isnt a disaster but I definitely would not buy this foundation again.

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A great value foundation that's perfect for me!

I never used to wear foundation just a tinted moisturiser and then more recently a BB cream. However I noticed that as the coverage of my BB cream was only very sheer I needed a little more coverage to even out my skin tone. I saw that Boots had a foundation matching service so I decided to give it a try as I hadn't bought a foundation in a long time. If you haven't tried the Boots colour match service I recommend it highly. They take pictures close up from each side of your face just below your jaw line and then match you up to your perfect colour which is available in all No7 foundations. After discovering I was 'cool ivory' the makeup consultant then showed me a few options to get the perfect coverage.

I only like a very light to medium coverage as I like the natural look. I also have clear skin which I just wanted to even out. I decided to go for the Essentially Natural foundation on the basis of how it looked in the shop which I find is normally a good guide as the lighting shows everything! The foundation is one of the cheaper ones in the No7 range and costs £9.95 for 40ml.

The bottle is silver with a black lid. The lid has a sticker showing the colour and the name. The tube is a flat shape so it is easy to dispense.

The foundation is described as Hypo-allergenic and suitable for all skin types. It also offers SPF 15, is suitable for all skin types. The back of the foundation states that it will help you to achieve a soft delicate coverage whilst still covering blemishes and minimising the appearance of pores. The foundation contains antioxidants which with the SPF help protect from the ageing effects of the sun. The formula also contains ceremides and a vitamin enriched formula which has grapeseed oil to prevent dryness and keep the skin moisturised all day and feeling softer.

To use the foundation you need to shake the bottle before use and then blend evenly with your fingers or a sponge.

I always use my fingers to apply my foundation. The has the look of a moisturiser when it comes out of the tube when I applied the foundation I only needed a small amount to cover my whole face. As the formula was so creamy it spread over my skin easily. There wasn't any chalky residue left on my fingers like others I have used. One thing I noticed was how moisturising this gelt. It had a cooling effect on my skin when I applied. I have dry skin which can be oily in my t zone. After applying my skin looked really even and fresh. It covered my pores and blended my skin for a nice finish. The colour was also perfect for me and I had no tell tale tidemarks thanks to the colour matching service. On the odd occassion I have had a blemish it has also concealled that. I wear this most days now and I find that my skin still looks good even after 8 hours wear. I have also started using my BB cream underneath which was recommended to do in Boots as the BB cream will perfect the skin first.

I love this foundation I know that as well as providing coverage it protects my skin from the sun and is also suitable for even the mkst sensitive skin which is great for me as sometimes particularly in winter my skin can get dry and sore. Afyer 2 months of use I also still have over half a tube which is great as I use it daily so it is also good value.I would give this 5 out of 5. I will definately be buying it again.

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It would'nt be my first choice

Like many women I love to try out new cosmetics and perfumes. My make up bag is full of lotions and potions that I have purchased and some have been more successful than others. In general the Boots No 7 range is fairly decent, the range offers good quality cosmetics at affordable prices. I had seen the No 7 Essentially natural foundation in the chemist but decided not to buy it before using up other foundation creams that I have already bought. My niece loves her skin creams and facial products, she had already purchased some of this No 7 foundation and had decided it wasn't for her.

I know that we should never judge a book by it's cover but this foundation cream does not come in the prettiest of packaging. The grey plastic tube is basic, it has a screw on top and the product information is imprinted in gold lettering. Some would say that the packaging is classic but in my books it is pretty uninteresting. The tube holds 40ml of the No 7 Essentially natural mineral foundation cream and if you were to buy that it would cost in the region of £13.50. The mineral foundation cream claims to offer lightweight hydration for a healthy looking finish.

The cream comes in six shades, my tube is 225 beige. The cream is fairly fluid and it flows easily from the tube. The foundation cream is light and soft to the touch and it doesn't feel powdery. The silky lotion smells pleasant too. If anything the cream flows a bit too easily, making it a bit difficult to squeeze out the right amount without wasting. I always apply my foundation cream using my fingertips and this lotion is so light that it glides onto the skin.

After applying a layer of moisturiser I add a few dabs of the No 7 mineral cream. The foundation is cream in colour but it looks dark against my skin. I have pale dry skin and this cream looks positively muddy. As I start to smooth the foundation cream into my skin the `muddiness` clears, the foundation is easy to apply and it blends into the skin within seconds. After applying one light coat of cream and blending it in it would seem that the Boots No 7 mineral foundation has all but vanished.

The cream contains a ceramide complex and sodium hyaluronate to help keep the skin moist. Many facial products make the surface of the skin feel taut and dry but this is not one of them, after applying a layer of the mineral cream my skin feels moist, soft and supple and the light perfume from the cream is pleasing. A second look in the mirror tells me that the coverage is not all that it should be, my face looks a bit patchy. The mineral foundation cream is still moist enough to move around so I try to smooth out the patches using my fingertips. The cream refuses to co-operate until I use a make up sponge to blend it in and the end result is good.

One layer of the mineral foundation cream offers a very light coverage that does nothing for my skin so I apply another layer. The second layer makes all the difference, the coverage is good and my skin looks fine. The cream has semi-covered some minor skin imperfections and small veins. This foundation leaves the skin looking fresh and natural not clogged and dull. My face doesn't feel taut, dry or uncomfortable either.

The Boots No 7 mineral foundation cream is fine although it maybe not my number one choice. I have found that the foundation rubs off easily and leaves the collars of my tops quite marked but those marks seem to wash away easily. The cream is easy to remove at the end of the day too, it washes away with ease. Boots state that the cream is hypo-allergenic and that it will not block skin pores. The cream contains a semi-precious gem complex ( this includes a mixture of Ruby, Sapphire and Amethyst, these minerals help to create a natural finish. The foundation also contains SPF 15 to help protect the skin from sunlight.

The Boots No 7 mineral foundation cream is fine, having tried this foundation I maybe wouldn't rush out to buy a second tube but a 40 ml tube is going to go a very long way.

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I highly recommend this foundation for all skin types

So, this review follows on from my no.7 Shine Free Make Up Base review, which I apply to my skin first. However, I have used this without the base and it works fantastically then as well. The colour I use is soft cream. I have a very light skin tone, although a No.7 consultant will help you find the right colour for you.

My sister has been introducing me to the wonders of No.7 products and this product was her best introduction. Having tried so many different foundations in desperate search of 'the one', I finally found it in this.It retails in Boots for around £13 at the moment, although stockists on Ebay do appear to have them at around £8 before P&P.

Packaging - Yet again, another simple and sleek tube from No.7. Their brand is extremely distinctive in its simplicity. This tube is particularly nice though, the base colour being a kind of greenish brown with gold lettering.

The Product - I moved to this from using powdered minerals (Benefit, L'Oreal) and I wasn't too sure about the concept of liquid mineral foundation. Thankfully, my misgivings were unfounded. As with other No.7 products, I've found a small amount goes a long way, so please be careful with your usage and always make sure you blend so you don't have streaks.

The liquid cream is quite runny when you first squeeze the tube, but don't put off. When you apply it to your face it honestly feels like liquid velvet. It is so soft and covers yours skin incredibly well. It isn't difficult to apply or blend on to your skin. The cream doesn't dry out too quickly, which I think is because it is quite runny. Thicker liquid foundations can dry in quickly, meaning you have to apply at lightening speed. No such problems here!My advice is to use small amounts and add more as is necessary to ensure your face is cover. I blend it in with my fingers but you could use a clean makeup sponge if you prefer.

The results - I've found this to give me the best coverage, better than high priced products by a long shot. The foundation is so light you can't feel it on your skin, which is a major must for me. I hate the feel of heavy foundation so being able to wear this every day is fantastic. It's great for evening out your skin tone and you don't look as if you have foundation on. I've found I don't need to use a blemish corrector with this foundation - another bonus. This is perfect for night or day wear. For a natural look just use this, or you can add colour using some bronzer/blusher. I use the No.7 bronzing pearls.

ExtrasThe foundation is hypo-allergenic, is non-pore blocking (although I still advice to cleanse at the end of each day) and contains SPF15 which we all know is recommended all year to keep your skin young and healthy.

I've had my tube for around 5 months now and I still have a good amount left, despite daily use. Due to this, don't let the price put you off, it will last for ages. Alternatively, stock up when there is a 3 for 2 offer on or use a £5 off voucher which Boots give out quite regularly.